Forcible entry tool



Nov. 23, 1965 E. FRIED 3,219,316

FORCIBLE ENTRY TOOL Filed May 14, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 23, 1965 E. FRIED FORCIBLE ENTRY TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 14, 1964 I NVEN TOR. 24 6722112 LlLZ gu'ea United States Patent 3,219,316 FORCIBLE ENTRY TOOL Emanuel Fried, 318 N. Washington, Westmont, Ill. Filed May 14, 1964, Ser. No. 367,484 1 Claim. (Cl. 254131) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 138,431, now abandoned, filed September 15, 1961.

This invention relates to forcible entry tools for use in fire fighting, rescue work, and related emergencies. More particularly the invention relates to a forcible entry tool which may be used to perform a wide variety of operations and yet which is sufiiciently compact to permit the tool to be easily carried.

Forcible entry tools are often used for performing various cutting and prying operations at fires, wrecks, or similar disasters. For example, a fire fighter may utilize such a tool to open a locked door or window in order to gain access to a fire or to rescue a trapped person. A fire fighter may also use a forcible entry tool to open a portion of a wall in order to determine the extent to which a fire has spread. Obviously, the physical characteristics and configurations of structures to be entered may vary considerably. This often requires the fire fighter or rescue worker to utilize a number of different types of forcible entry tools during the course of his fire fighting or rescue work in order to perform all of the various forcible entry operations required.

Because forcible entry tools are often large and cumbersome, a problem arises in having the proper tool where and when it is needed. The fire fighter or rescue worker is generally physically unable to carry all of the tools he may require for the various situations he may encounter. Accordingly, if he does not have the tool he needs, he either has to wait for someone else to bring him the proper tool for the operation confronting him, or he must waste valuable time by obtaining the tool himself from some supply area. Furthermore, in fire fighting, certain fire fighters such as the engine or hose men have tasks which prevent them from carrying large and cumbersome forcible entry tools, but these men may be confronted with situations requiring such tools. A solution to the problem is to provide extra men for carrying the tools, but such extra men are not always available.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a compact forcible entry tool which may be utilized to perform a variety of operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multipurpose forcible entry tool which may be easily carried by a person.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a single, forcible entry tool which will perform operations heretofore requiring a relatively large number of different types of forcible entry tools.

A feature of the invention is to the provision of a forcible entry tool having two working units, each comprising a head and an attached handle and each being immediately available to the user. For instance, the tool is usable as a working tool of variable leverage, as two working units, one of which may be struck by the other to provide additional force, and as two readily detachable separate units for independent use, according to the requirements of the operation.

3,2193% Patented Nov. 23, 1965 Another feature is the mechanical arrangement of the parts of the tool, rendering the tool compact for easy carrying and storage.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of a multiple structure tool with extreme ruggedness, and providing a wide scope of utility in many types of fire fighting and rescue operations.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational View, partially in half section, of a complete tool with the working units secured together;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the head of a first working unit of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the complete tool with the working units partially extended;

FIG. 4 shows an alternate position for the head member of a second working unit of the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an operation which may be performed with the invention; and

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate the steps of another operation for which the invention may be utilized.

The invention comprises a multi-purpose forcible entry tool for use in fire fighting, rescue work, and related emergencies. The tool has two working units which are adjustably secured together for use as one unit, and which also may be separated for independent use. When the units are separated, they may be used in a cooperative manner. A first working unit comprises an elongated tubular handle with a head mounted on one end thereof. This head has a chopping blade and a pike extending from opposite sides thereof. A second working unit comprises an elongated handle with a tapered head or wedge mounted thereon. The handle of the second unit is telescopeable within the tubular handle of the first unit to a fully telescoped position with the end of the handle of the first unit opposite the head thereof engaging the head of the second unit. A manually releasable latch device secures the two handles with the handle of the second unit in fully telescoped position.

The two heads of the forcible entry tool are each provided with an aperature therein for receiving a portion of the other working unit to transmit torque therebetween. For example, the head having the blade and pike extending therefrom is apertured intermediate the blade and the pike for receiving the end of the second handle opposite the wedge. Force may therefore be exerted on the second handle for prying with the blade. Additionally, the wedge has a slot formed therein conforming substantially to the cross-section of the blade. When the blade is engaged in the slot, torque may be exerted on the blade from the second handle. The slot in the wedge permits the wedge to be used in a manner similar to the claw of a conventional hammer or as a pinching wedge for removal of nails or other similar driven objects. The wedge is removably secured to the second handle so that the taper extends in the same direction as the axis of the handle or transversely thereof. The head having the blade and the pike is formed so that the blade is a given distance from the end of the head opposite the handle to leave a portion of the head opposite to the pike substantially flat. The pike has a top surface substantially flush with the end of the head opposite the handle.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 4, the forcible entry tool of the invention is shown therein having two working units which, as will be described, are used in a cooperative manner to perform various forcible entry operations. The first working unit is comprised of a head 11, of substantially rectangular cross section, secured to an end of an elongated tubular handle 12. A collar 12a surrounds the other end of handle 12. The head 11 has a blade 13 extending therefrom for chopping and cutting. The lower edge of blade 13 is provided with serrations 14 for cutting in a sawing manner. On the opposite side of the head 11 from blade 13 is a pike 15. Blade 13 and pike 15 are longitudinally staggered in location along the head 11 with blade 13 spaced from the top of the head to provide a flat striking surface 16 on the opposite side of the head from the pike for driving the pike. The fact that blade 13 is spaced from the top of head 11 also provides clearance to permit the top of head 11 to be used as a fulcrum for exerting leverage on the pike from handle 12. The mechanical advantage is also improved when the top of the head is used as a fulcrum, rather than the thinner and less stable upper corner of the blade which would be the case were the top of the blade flush with the top of the head.

The second working unit is comprised of an elongated handle 21 insertable in tubular handle 12. FIG. 1 shows handle 21 inserted in tubular handle 12 so that the two handles are fully telescoped, while FIG. 3 shows the two handles only partially telescoped. The two handles are movable relative to one another in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 3. Handle 21 may be of solid material of suitable dimensions to fit snugly in handle 12. Head 11 is provided with an opening 22 between blade 13 and pike 15 for receiving the reduced diameter end 23 of handle 21 to exert additional leverage for twisting blade 13 (see FIG. 8).

A wedge 24 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4), substantially rectangular in cross-section, is mounted on handle 21 in either of two different attitudes. To accomplish this, openings 25 and 26 are provided on transverse surfaces of the wedge 24. The end of handle 21 opposite the reduced diameter end 23 is insertable into either of these openings and is captured therein by means of a convenient latching arrangement. The particular latching arrangement shown includes a spring biased latch pin 27 mounted on handle 21, and actuator buttons 28 and 29 which are respectively disposed in latch holes passing from openings 25 and 26 to the outer surface of wedge 24. When handle 21 is disposed in either opening 25 (FIGS. 1 and 3) or opening 26 (FIG. 4), latch pin 27 is aligned with either of the latch holes and will enter the hole and engage the respective one of latch actuator buttons 28 and 29 to displace the same outwardly. Handle 21 is thereby secured in the respective opening and may be released therefrom only by depression of the proper actuator button.

Wedge 24 has a cutting and chopping blade 35, and has a slot 36 therein which may be used for extracting driven objects such as nails and screws, or which may be driven against such objects to break them. The slot 36 is also designed to fit and operate gas shut off valves. It may also be used to twist and open locks and hasps. The slot 36 conforms to the cross-section of the blade 13 and may be mated therewith as shown in FIG. 5. If it is desired to pry an opening by inserting the blade 13 therein and twisting the blade, handle 21 and wedge 24 may be engaged as illustrated in FIG. 5. This enables the user of the tool to exert torque on the blade by gripping both handle 21 and handle 12, providing a two handed twisting action for torque and stability.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that handle 21 when fully telescoped within handle 14 is secured therein by means of a latching arrangement similar to that used to secure wedge 24 on handle 21. Handle 21 is provided with spring biased latch pin 41 for entering a latch hole extending from the hollow interior of handle 21 to the outer surface of head 11 to engage an actuator button 43. The two handles may be released by depression of latch actuator button 43.

For carrying and storage purposes, the rescue tool is secured as shown in FIG. 1 with the working units 10 and 11 fully telescoped together in order to minimize space requirements. The rescue tool may be used in a well known manner when secured fully together. For additional leverage, the actuator button 43 may be pushed to depress latch pin 41. Handles 12 and 21 are then pulled apart sufficiently to provide the necessary leverage (see FIG. 3). If desired, the Working units may be fully separated and used independently by one or two individuals in a well known manner.

In addition to conventional uses of the tool, with its parts secured together or separated, the working units may be used in mating cooperation to accomplish a wide variety of forcible entry operations. Thus, one member may be used to strike the other member so that additional force may be applied to such parts as the wedge, blade or pike. For example, to deepen an opening made by wedge 24, the wedge may be struck by the other working unit in either of two ways depending on the manner in which the wedge 24 is secured to handle 21. With wedge 24 disposed on handle 21 as in FIG. 4, the tool may be separated and the end surface 24a of wedge 24 struck by a convenient surface on head 11. With wedge 24 disposed on handle 21 as in FIGS. 1 and 3, repeated sliding of handle 12 along handle 21 will cause collar 12a to strike surface 24a on wedge 24 to drive the wedge. Wedge 24 need not be removably mounted on handle 21 but may be fixed on the handle in only one position, such as in FIGS. 1 and 3, with its taper extending in the same direction as the axis of the handle.

Another operation for which the invention may be utilized is that of prying a door in circumstances where space does not permit the use of full leverage coaxial with the wedge. For example, when the door is adjacent a partition as seen in FIG. 6, the brick wall 51 prevents the user of the tool from moving the handle to the left in order to pry the door 52. In such case the wedge is forced between the door 52 and the jam 53 by means of ramming or repeatedly sliding handle 12 along handle 21 to engage collar 12a with the surface 24a of wedge 24 and drive the wedge into the space between the door 52 and the jam 53. After driving in wedge 24, the opening gained by the wedge is held and the two parts of the tool are separated. The blade 13 is inserted into the space forced by the wedge between door 52 and jam 53, as shown in FIG. 7. Now the wedge is removed and handle 21 is inserted into the opening 22 in head 11 as shown in FIG. 8. If pull is then exerted on the wedge, the door may be sprung without interference with the brick wall 51.

It may therefore be seen that the invention provides a useful tool which may be hand carried as an effective substitute for a great number of other separate tools for accomplishing a variety forcible entry operations. The tool is compact and of rugged construction and may be of all metal (preferably steel) construction.

I claim:

A forcible entry tool capable of being carried in the hand as a readily portable unit, including in combination, a head portion having a blade portion extending there from, with a sharp edge along the vertical forward portion of the blade portion, a first handle means secured in said head portion and extending at right angles to the direction said blade portion extends, a second handle means telescopingly assembled with said first handle means in a first position and removable from the tele scoped assembly with said first handle means for mounting in a second position, a hole in said head portion at the side thereof extending into said head portion at right angles to the direction of extension of said blade portion and at right angles to the direction which said first handle portion extends, said second handle portion in said position being insertable in said hole at one end and having a grasping portion at the outer end portion thereof, said blade portion being insertable at its sharp edge in a cracklike portion between two structural elements, and with said first and second handle portions acting respectively to maintain said blade portion in the inserted position and to exert a leverage thereon when pressure is applied by the user on said second handle in a direction generally arcuately relative to said blade portion and cause said blade portion to separate one of the two structural elements from the other.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 118,266 8/ 1 871 Peabody 1452 585,123 6/1897 Severance 25425 776,191 11/1904 Lynch 14521 840,580 1/ 1907 McMillan 254-131 1,110,969 9/1914 Stacy 14521 1,397,644 11/ 1921 McChesnie 712 1,457,930 6/1923 Nelems 78.1

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

MILTON S. MEHR, Examiner. 

